Summary: Ratchet does some math and devises a plan of action. The Autobots and Decepticons decide who is bunking with whom, and settle in. Chapter also features a staple of Transformers lore: totally made up bullshit science.
. . .
"Well, Soundwave gave me access to the maps, and I did the math. I think that if we use the last of our fuel to point us in the direction of the nearest solar system, we'll have enough energon to survive the trip." Ratchet reported his findings, and Optimus Prime looked torn.
"It's a long shot, but we don't really have any choice, do we?" The Autobot leader sighed.
"We could jettison the dead weight, and lighten our load." Starscream smirked, and Megatron shot him a disapproving glare.
"If that were the case, I'd start with you, Starscream." Megatron's jab was met with an indignant huff.
"If you even so much as try it, I'm vaporizing this ship, and taking you jerks with me." Jazz growled, and it seemed he was able to make good on his promise.
"It would seem we are at an impasse." Megatron sighed.
"This ship isn't big enough for all of us, but we have to try and make it work." Skyfire suggested.
"There are nine of us here, and only five crew quarters. We'll have to double up." Thundercracker pointed out.
"Well I can bunk with my trinemate." Skywarp said, moving to stand with the other seeker.
"You wanna hang with me, little dude?" Jazz turned to Bumblebee, who shrugged.
"Sure, why not." The yellow mech replied.
"I'll bunk with you then, old friend." Optimus nodded to Ratchet.
"Starscream, you're with me." Megatron stated firmly.
"What if I refuse?" The air commander pouted, not because he actually cared, but because of the principle of the thing. He wouldn't be told what to do.
"We're the only two left, Starscream." The silver mech groaned.
"True statement." Soundwave noted. "I must have a room to myself for my underlings."
"And I couldn't fit in one of those quarters if I tried. I'll recharge in here." Skyfire smiled, gesturing to the hangar.
"It's settled then. I propose we all take half-energon rations for now. As long was we don't expend unnecessary energy, we should be alright." Optimus announced.
"Since when do you get to decide the rations?" Megatron growled, glaring at Prime.
"I don't see you coming up with suggestions!" Jazz exclaimed.
"As long as we have a truce, I should have just as much say in the running of this ship as he does!" Megatron shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Optimus.
"Fine then." Ratchet glared. "What do you suggest?"
"There's a trick I learned on Cybertron." Megatron said in a low voice. "If you dilute the energon with certain gases, it lasts longer, and makes you feel almost as charged as you would if you had taken full rations."
"That's... not a bad idea." The Autobot medic admitted, thinking. "Do we have enough of a supply to last us?"
"I've already sent Laserbeak to the cargo bay to check. It seems the old seekers kept this ship stocked with the components we'll need."
"The ship was stocked with Silicon Flare Oil. When I heat that under an ultraviolet light, it evaporates into Sa4, the gas we need to dilute energon." Starscream added, proudly.
"How can we trust a slimy bot like you?" Bumblebee frowned at the seeker.
"I was the pride of the science academy, only one year from graduation, when I left to become a warrior!" Starscream hissed in response, and Skyfire stepped between them before the situation turned violent.
"I actually know about the process Starscream means to attempt, and I believe it would work." the large Autobot said confidently.
"If Skyfire trusts him, that's good enough for me." Optimus smiled.
"If we are to live here together, for the time it takes to reach the next solar system, we must try to get along." Skyfire said calmly.
The new crew of the CSC Solaris grumbled their agreement.
. . .
Optimus Prime was relaxing in his berth, when there was a knock on his door.
"Come in." He called, and the door opened, to reveal Bumblebee. Optimus sat up, and patted the space beside him on the berth. "What do you need, Bumblebee?"
"I was just worrying about something." The yellow mech's optics dimmed. "Do you think we stopped the process in time to save Earth?"
"You mean the energy siphoning? Yes, I believe we did." Optimus nodded, and searched his soldier's face for signs of relief. "You're still worried though."
"Before we left, Spike was telling me about how he wanted to propose to Carly."
"Propose?" Prime asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"Yeah, it's something humans do, a promise of spark bonding, like how Cybertronians offer a gift to the mech they want to share their spark with."
"Ah." Optimus nodded, ever perceptive. "And you think that because we disappeared, he might not go through with it."
"Right." Bumblebee frowned. "Spike said he wanted me to be his 'best man'. It's an important place of honor in the human ritual of marriage. I hope my absence doesn't keep him from it."
"I don't think it will." Optimus said. "I don't know much about human rituals, but I do know that Spike loves Carly, and wants to be with her. Our absence won't change that."
Bumblebee nodded, finally reassured. He glanced up at Optimus.
"Do you ever think about it? Settling down one day, and having sparklings of your own?"
"I used to." Optimus sighed. "But none of us can bring little ones into the world with Cybertron in stasis. Until we revive our home planet, I doubt I will be bonding with anyone."
"I used to think that too. Being among the humans has made me see everything in a new light." Bumblebee smiled. "Even in the face of disaster, they still find time to love. I wish Spike the best."
. . .
Across the ship, Starscream was examining the crew quarters. He didn't like what he found, and voiced his opinions. Loudly.
"Ugh. There's dust everywhere." the seeker groaned.
"Well we didn't exactly plan to use the quarters, did we? It was just supposed to be a quick trip to Cybertron using the warp function, and then right back."
"I suppose one good thing came out of this fiasco." Starsccream muttered.
"And what would that be?" The silver mech asked, already hating the answer.
"These close quarters give me a better chance to kill you, and assume control of the Decepticons." Starscream smirked.
"Your first mistake was blurting out your master plan." Megatron noted sarcastically. He continued, leaning close, before Starscream could reply. "Your second mistake was assuming I didn't have plans of my own, for our surprise vacation."
And then the leader of the Decepticons leaned forward, and pressed his lips to Starscream's mouth, silencing his sharp tongue as effectively as a null ray. The seeker's optics widened, then half-closed as his cooling fans started up. The thought of the things they could do together with all this time was a cheerful thought.
"I think I needed a break." Starscream whispered, as they pulled apart.
. . .
"Did you notice that Screamer seemed a little off, this morning?" Thundercracker frowned.
"Yeah. Usually wrenches get thrown, when you ask for them." Skywarp nodded. "What do you think is up with that?"
Thundercracker leaned back in the berth, while Skywarp paced, full of nervous energy.
"I dunno, but I'm gonna scream if you keep pacing like that."
"I can't help it. I have to get used to staying away from my warping power."
"Why?" The blue seeker asked, suddenly curious. "I know warping takes a lot of extra energy, but we don't go on the diluted rations until tomorrow."
"It's not just that..." Skywarp muttered. "When the ship jumped to these coordinates, it felt like déjà vu, and it's been bugging me all morning. I just now realized why it bothered me so much. This ship warps the same way I do."
"You don't think..." Thundercracker trailed off quietly.
"That the old Cybertronians ripped a warp junction out of a seeker and fused it into this ship? Maybe." Skywarp shuddered. "I'd rather not find out."
"It's worth looking into..." Thundercracker said, mostly to himself.
"Uh, no? It isn't? Didn't you just hear what I said? I don't know, and I don't wanna know." Skywarp protested, but he knew the expression Thundercracker had on his faceplates. He put his soul into fixing this ship, and no creepy mysteries could be hidden from him.
. . .
Ratchet hummed a cheerful song as he unloaded his ambulance, and with a few items taken from the cargo hold, set up a temporary med-bay in the hangar. A day ago, he had questioned Prime's choice to include him on the boarding party, but now he was glad to have come along. After all, what if something happened, and someone needed a medic? Speaking of that...
"Hey Skyfire! Care to be my first patient?"
"Ratchet, I've seen you cure many mechs in my brief time as an Autobot. I would hardly be the first." Skyfire noted, with a confused expression.
"I meant my first patient in this ramshackle operation." Ratchet clarified with a smile.
"Oh... While I appreciate the thought, I just have minor injuries from the battle. I wouldn't want you to waste supplies on such small wounds."
"Nonsense! I have plenty, and I doubt I'll actually have much of a need for them. You might as well help my boredom at least."
Skyfire acquiesced, and Ratchet looked him over. He was true to his word, and the energy burns on his wing were easily mended. The medic cleaned the wound with a surface anesthetic. He then took a sheet of fine metal gauze, and squeezed on a bit of medicine. It was a cream of his own invention, that conducted electrical currents to knit together scratches and help Cybertronians heal more quickly. After tying the gauze to the wing, Ratchet declared that he was finished, and Skyfire patted the bandage appreciatively.
It wasn't deep, and it didn't really hurt, but he saw that the medic was happy when helping others, and as a scientist, he was intrigued by the steroid cream.
"You invented that stuff, didn't you?" Skyfire asked with a grin.
"I did indeed. I was inspired after hearing Spike talk about a cream that helped humans heal faster. There are two components. First, the cream conducts and amplifies the electrical currents that starts the cybertronian healing process. Next, it provides a hospitable environment for the nanobots that heal us, to thrive and work faster. Not unlike human blood cells."
"Fascinating..." Skyfire exclaimed, examining the tube in Ratchet's hand with curiosity.
"Indeed! One good thing about this extended adventure, is that I have a chance to develop some projects I've had in mind for a while."
"If you don't mind, Ratchet, I would like to assist you." Skyfire smiled brightly. It had been a long time since he could just relax and be a scientist. If he could keep from seeing Starscream, this mission might even be fun.